U.S. patent application number 10/633750 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-05 for device, method, and program for design-aiding of casting product.
Invention is credited to Iimi, Hidenori, Kojima, Ryotaro.
Application Number | 20040024480 10/633750 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31185096 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040024480 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Iimi, Hidenori ; et
al. |
February 5, 2004 |
Device, method, and program for design-aiding of casting
product
Abstract
A shape of an inputted casting product is divided into a
plurality of cells. A heat-transfer solidification of a molted
metal is analyzed. A value of G/{square root}{square root over (R)}
(G: temperature gradient, R: cooling rate) is computed in each
cell. A corresponding value, as a specific gravity value,
corresponding to G/{square root}{square root over (R)} in each cell
is retrieved from a database unit to be assigned to each cell.
Cells included in a region are stratified and counted with respect
to each corresponding value. Each counted number is multiplied by
each corresponding cell volume to obtain a volume. The volume is
multiplied by each corresponding value to obtain a product. All the
products corresponding to all the corresponding values within the
region are summed up and then divided by a region volume to obtain
a shrinkage porosity occurrence rate as a specific gravity value of
the region.
Inventors: |
Iimi, Hidenori; (Obu-city,
JP) ; Kojima, Ryotaro; (Anjo-city, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 828
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48303
US
|
Family ID: |
31185096 |
Appl. No.: |
10/633750 |
Filed: |
August 4, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/98 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 30/00 20200101;
G05B 2219/35044 20130101; G06F 2119/08 20200101; G05B 2219/35015
20130101; G06F 2113/22 20200101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/98 |
International
Class: |
G06F 019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 5, 2002 |
JP |
2002-227360 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A design-aiding device for a casting product, comprising:
analyzing means for analyzing solidification process based on
temperature change of a melted material of the casting product in
elapse of time in a three-dimensional model that corresponds to the
casting product and is formed of a plurality of cells; computing
means for computing cell shrinkage porosity occurrence rates of the
cells in the three-dimensional model from a result by the analyzing
means; converting means for stratifying the cell shrinkage porosity
occurrence rates computed by the computing means and for converting
the cell shrinkage porosity occurrence rates to specific gravity
values; and quantifying means for quantifying a region shrinkage
porosity occurrence rate of a region that is to be evaluated
regarding the region shrinkage porosity occurrence rate, by
computing a volume with respect to each of the specific gravity
values converted by the converting means, multiplying the computed
volume by each of the specific gravity values to obtain a product,
and then summing up, to obtain a sum, all the products
corresponding to all the specific gravity values included in the
region.
2. The design-aiding device for a casting product according to
claim 1, wherein the computing means computes the cell shrinkage
porosity occurrence rates with an equation where a temperature
gradient of the melted material is divided by a square root of a
cooling rate of the melted material.
3. The design-aiding device for a casting product according to
claim 2, wherein the equation includes, as an initial condition, a
supply-stopping temperature at which supply of the melted material
is stopped, and wherein the supply-stopping temperature is set
based on a kind of the melted material.
4. The design-aiding device for a casting product according to
claim 1, further comprising: strata setting means for setting a
number of strata of the cell shrinkage porosity occurrence rates,
wherein the converting means stratifies the cell shrinkage porosity
occurrence rates into the strata.
5. The design-aiding device for a casting product according to
claim 1, wherein the quantifying means quantifies the region
shrinkage porosity occurrence rate as a region specific gravity
value by dividing the sum by a volume of the region.
6. The design-aiding device for a casting product according to
claim 1, wherein the region that is to be evaluated regarding the
region shrinkage porosity occurrence rate is one of a plurality of
regions into which the three-dimensional model is divided.
7. The design-aiding device for a casting product according to
claim 5, further comprising: critical value setting means for
setting a critical specific gravity value; and determining means
for determining whether the region specific gravity value is not
greater than the critical specific gravity value set by the
critical value setting means, and advising changing design when the
region specific gravity value is determined to be not greater than
the critical specific gravity value.
8. The design-aiding device for a casting product according to
claim 7, wherein the critical value setting means sets the critical
specific gravity value with respect to each of regions into which
the three-dimensional model is divided.
9. The design-aiding device for a casting product according to
claim 1, wherein the casting product includes a die-casting product
using an alumina alloy.
10. A design-aiding method for a casting product, comprising:
analyzing solidification process based on temperature change of a
melted material of the casting product in elapse of time in a
three-dimensional model that corresponds to the casting product and
is formed of a plurality of cells; computing cell shrinkage
porosity occurrence rates of the cells in the three-dimensional
model from an analyzed result; converting the cell shrinkage
porosity occurrence rates to specific gravity values after
stratifying the cell shrinkage porosity occurrence rates; and
quantifying a region shrinkage porosity occurrence rate of a region
that is to be evaluated regarding the region shrinkage porosity
occurrence rate, by computing a volume with respect to each of the
specific gravity values, multiplying the computed volume by each of
the specific gravity values to obtain a product, and then summing
up, to obtain a sum, all the products corresponding to all the
specific gravity values included in the region.
11. The design-aiding method for a casting product according to
claim 10, wherein the cell shrinkage porosity occurrence rates of
the cells are computed with an equation where a temperature
gradient of the melted material is divided by a square root of a
cooling rate of the melted material.
12. The design-aiding method for a casting product according to
claim 11, wherein the equation includes, as an initial condition, a
supply-stopping temperature at which supply of the melted material
is stopped, and wherein the supply-stopping temperature is set
based on a kind of the melted material.
13. The design-aiding method for a casting product according to
claim 10, further comprising: setting a number of strata of the
cell shrinkage porosity occurrence rates, wherein the cell
shrinkage porosity occurrence rates are stratified into the number
of strata when the cell shrinkage porosity occurrence rates are
stratified.
14. The design-aiding method for a casting product according to
claim 10, wherein the region shrinkage porosity occurrence rate is
quantified as a region specific gravity value by dividing the sum
by a volume of the region.
15. The design-aiding method for a casting product according to
claim 10, wherein the region that is to be evaluated regarding the
region shrinkage porosity occurrence rate is one of a plurality of
regions into which the three-dimensional model is divided.
16. The design-aiding method for a casting product according to
claim 14, further comprising: setting a critical specific gravity
value; and determining whether the region specific gravity value is
not greater than the critical specific gravity value, and advising
changing design when the region specific gravity value is
determined to be not greater than the critical specific gravity
value.
17. The design-aiding method for a casting product according to
claim 16, wherein the critical specific gravity value is set with
respect to each of regions into which the three-dimensional model
is divided.
18. The design-aiding method for a casting product according to
claim 10, wherein the casting product includes a die-casting
product using an alumina alloy.
19. A computer program product for executing design-aiding for a
casting product, comprising: analyzing solidification process based
on temperature change of a melted material of the casting product
in elapse of time in a three-dimensional model that corresponds to
the casting product and is formed of a plurality of cells;
computing cell shrinkage porosity occurrence rates of the cells in
the three-dimensional model from an analyzed result; converting the
cell shrinkage porosity occurrence rates to specific gravity values
after stratifying the cell shrinkage porosity occurrence rates; and
quantifying a region shrinkage porosity occurrence rate of a region
that is to be evaluated regarding the region shrinkage porosity
occurrence rate, by computing a volume with respect to each of the
specific gravity values, multiplying the computed volume by each of
the specific gravity values to obtain a product, and then summing
up, to obtain a sum, all the products corresponding to all the
specific gravity values included in the region.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on and incorporates herein by
reference Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-227360 filed on Aug.
5, 2002.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a device, method, and
program for design-aiding of a casting product.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] JP-A-2001-287023 discloses a solidification analyzing method
as a design-aiding method for a cast metal product with a compute.
This method includes several steps as follows, as shown in FIG. 9.
At Step Z1, after an analyzed target is divided into a plurality of
cells, a solidifying process of a molted metal in each cell is
computed by solving an equation of heat conduction with a calculus
of finite differences. At Step Z2, a solidifying time is recorded.
At Step Z3, disruption of not solidifying portion and its
solidifying process are analyzed during the course of solidifying.
At Step Z4, a volume of generated shrinkage porosity (SP) is
computed. At Step Z5, a list of shrinkage cavities is formed with
including positions and volumes of all the shrinkage cavities. At
Step Z6, all the shrinkage cavities in the list are
three-dimensionally shown in a display.
[0004] The above design-aiding method thus mainly analyzes the
positions and the volumes of the generated shrinkage cavities
during the course of the solidifying. Although the analyzed
shrinkage cavities are three-dimensionally shown in the display, it
does not lead to determining whether required strength or
durability is obtained. This is an obstacle for designers of
casting metal products to use the design-aiding method in actual
designing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
device, method, and program for design-aiding of a casting product
enabling easily determining influence of shrinkage cavities on
solid state properties of the casting product.
[0006] To achieve the above object, a design-aiding device is
provided with the following. Solidification process is analyzed
based on temperature change of a melted material of the casting
product in elapse of time in a three-dimensional model that
corresponds to the casting product and is formed of a plurality of
cells. Shrinkage porosity occurrence rates of the cells in the
three-dimensional model are computed from a result of analyzing.
The shrinkage porosity occurrence rates of the cells are stratified
and converted to specific gravity values. A region including cells
is designated for being evaluated. A shrinkage porosity occurrence
rate of the region is quantified, by computing a volume with
respect to each of the specific gravity values of the corresponding
cells, multiplying the computed volume by each of the specific
gravity values to obtain a product, and then summing up all the
products corresponding to all the specific gravity values of the
corresponding cells included in the region. This structure enables
a designer to easily grasp influence of the shrinkage porosity on
solid state properties of the product and to determine whether the
casting product should be redesigned. This results in remarkably
shortening a production preparation period for designing or
redesigning a mold, and enhancing quality of the casting
product.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description made with reference to the accompanying
drawings. In the drawings:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall structure of a
design-aiding device according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 a flow chart diagram explaining processing of a
design-aiding program executed by the design-aiding device
according to the first embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a graph showing actually measured values and
computed values of a specific gravity in the respective regions of
a first housing;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a graph showing actually measured values and
computed values of a specific gravity in the respective regions of
a second housing,
[0012] FIG. 5 is a graph showing specific-gravity-converted values
corresponding to the respective strata of G/{square root}{square
root over (R)};
[0013] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an overall structure of a
design-aiding device according to a second embodiment of the
present;
[0014] FIG. 7 a flow chart diagram explaining processing of a
design-aiding program executed by the design-aiding device
according to the second embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a graph showing actually measured values and
computed values of a specific gravity in the respective regions of
a third housing; and
[0016] FIG. 9 is a flow chart diagram explaining processing of a
related art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF. THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] (First Embodiment)
[0018] A design-aiding device shown in FIG. 1 as a first embodiment
of the present invention is constructed by storing an
after-described design-aiding program in a memory of a personal
computer and the like. The design-aiding device computes specific
gravity (SG) values based on occurrence rates of shrinkage cavities
in the respective regions of a designed die-casting metal
product.
[0019] An input unit 1 such as a keyboard or a mouse inputs shape
data (three-dimensional solid model) of a designed casting product,
a melted metal, casting condition, or the like. Furthermore, it
sets the number of strata of an occurrence rate of shrinkage
porosity, and designates a region of the casting product, the
region whose specific gravity is to be computed. The input unit 1
can read the three-dimensional solid model that is formed by a
computer-aided design.
[0020] A heat-transfer solidifying analyzing unit 2 divides the
three-dimensional solid model into a plurality of cells that are
tetrahedral. It furthermore analyzes heat-transfer solidifying of
the melted metal in elapse of time to thereby compute a temperature
gradient (G) [.degree. C./mm] and cooling rate (R) [.degree.
C./sec] of the melted metal in the respective cells.
[0021] A shrinkage porosity (SP) computing unit 3 computes a
shrinkage porosity occurrence rate of each cell as a value of
G/{square root}{square root over (R)} that is a shrinkage porosity
predictive equation. The shrinkage porosity predictive equation can
be G/t (t: solidifying time of melted metal), G.times.t.sup.2/3/V
(V: solidifying speed) or the like, instead of G/{square
root}{square root over (R)}. Furthermore, the shrinkage porosity
occurrence rate can be a result from directly computing occurrence
of the shrinkage porosity with simulation considering flow or
pressure.
[0022] A database unit 4 stores specific-gravity-converted
(SG-converted) values with respect to the number of strata of
occurrence rates of the shrinkage porosity and to a kind of melted
metal used in casting. Here, the SG-converted value corresponds to
the value of G/{square root}{square root over (R)}. Namely, the
value of G/{square root}{square root over (R)} is converted to the
SG-converted value that is treated as a specific value.
[0023] A specific gravity (SG) converting unit 5 retrieves, from
the database unit 4, an SG-converted value based on the value of
G/{square root}{square root over (R)}, the number of strata of
occurrence rates of the shrinkage porosity, and the kind of melted
metal used in casting, to assign the SG-converted value to the
respective cells.
[0024] A specific gravity (SG) computing unit 6 as a quantifying
means quantifies an occurrence rate of shrinkage porosity in a
certain region designated by the input unit 1 by the following
steps:
[0025] (1) searching for SG-converted values .rho.(j)
(1.ltoreq.j.ltoreq.m) assigned to respective cells within the
certain region;
[0026] (2) stratifying the searched SG-converted values
.rho.(j);
[0027] (3) counting the number N.rho.(j) of the cells with respect.
to each SG-converted value .rho.(j);
[0028] (4) computing a first product of the counted number
N.rho.(j) and a cell volume V.rho.(j) corresponding to each
SG-converted value .rho.(j), as a first volume
Vf.rho.(j)(=N.rho.(j).times.V.rho.(j)) corresponding to each
SG-converted value .rho.(j);
[0029] (5) computing a second product of the first volume
Vf.rho.(j) and the corresponding SG-converted value .rho.(j), as a
weight W.rho.(j)
(=N.rho.(j).times.V.rho.(j).times..rho.(j)=Vf.rho.(j).times..rho.(j));
[0030] (6) computing the sum of the weights W.rho.(j) corresponding
to the respective SG-converted values .rho.(j), as a region weight
1 W ( = j = 1 j = m W ( j ) = N ( 1 ) .times. V ( 1 ) .times. ( 1 )
+ N ( 2 ) .times. V ( 2 ) .times. ( 2 ) + + N ( m ) .times. V ( m )
.times. ( m ) ) ;
[0031] (7) computing (quantifying) the quotient when the region
weight W is divided by a region volume V, as a region specific
gravity .rho. (=W/V) that indicates the occurrence rate of the
shrinkage porosity of the certain region.
[0032] The output unit 7 such as a display shows the computed
respective region specific gravities of the respective regions of
the casting metal product. The output unit 7 can be a speaker
instead of the display.
[0033] Processing of an design-aiding program executed in the
design-aiding device according to the first embodiment will be
explained with reference to FIG. 2.
[0034] At Step 201, shape data (three-dimensional solid model) of a
designed casting product, a melted metal, casting condition, or the
like are inputted.
[0035] At Step 202, a region of the casting product is designated
for computing a specific gravity from the inputted
three-dimensional solid model. Since a shrinkage porosity
occurrence rate depends on a region of the casting product, a
region for computing a specific gravity is selected in each
case.
[0036] At Step 203, the number (more than one) of strata of
shrinkage porosity occurrence rates is set. This enables the number
of strata of a shrinkage porosity occurrence rate to be set
according to accuracy in quantifying the shrinkage porosity
occurrence rate.
[0037] For instance, in an earlier stage of designing, a designer
wants generally to understand, regarding a designed product, a
shrinkage porosity occurrence rate or strength reduction due to
shrinkage porosity. Here, the number of strata is set to a smaller
number to decrease processing time for quantifying. By contrast, in
a later stage, the designer needs to quantify in high accuracy, so
that the number of the strata is set to a larger number.
[0038] At Step 204, the three-dimensional solid model inputted at
Step 201 is divided into a plurality of cells (tetrahedron).
Heat-transfer solidifying of the melted metal in elapse of time is
analyzed to thereby compute a temperature gradient (G) and cooling
speed (R) of the melted metal in the respective cells.
[0039] At Step 205, a shrinkage porosity occurrence rate in each
cell is computed as a value of G/{square root}{square root over
(R)} that is a shrinkage porosity predictive equation. By using the
equation includes a cooling rate in addition to a temperature
gradient, the shrinkage porosity occurrence rate can be obtained
with high accuracy.
[0040] At Step 206, an SG-converted value is assigned to each cell
based on the value of G/{square root}{square root over (R)}, the
number of strata of occurrence rates of the shrinkage porosity, and
the kind of melted metal used in casting.
[0041] At Step 207, a shrinkage porosity occurrence rate in each
region designated at Step 202 is quantified as a specific gravity
by the same steps as explained in the SG computing unit 6. Namely,
SG-converted values .rho.(j) (1.ltoreq.j.ltoreq.m) assigned to
respective cells are searched and stratified. The number N.rho.(j)
of the cells with respect to each SG-converted value .rho.(j) is
multiplied with a cell volume V.rho.(j) corresponding to each
SG-converted value .rho.(j). Each of the preceding products is
furthermore multiplied with the SG-converted value .rho.(j), and
summed up to obtain a region weight 2 W ( = j = 1 j = m W ( j ) = N
( 1 ) .times. V ( 1 ) .times. ( 1 ) + N ( 2 ) .times. V ( 2 )
.times. ( 2 ) + + N ( m ) .times. V ( m ) .times. ( m ) ) .
[0042] Finally, the quotient when the region weight W is divided by
a region volume V is a region specific gravity .rho. (=W/V) that
indicates the occurrence rate of the shrinkage porosity of the
certain region.
[0043] Indicating the shrinkage porosity occurrence rate as the
specific gravity enables the designer to easily determine whether
the casting product is good or bad.
[0044] At Step 208, the computed specific gravity of the region is
shown to notify the designer.
[0045] Executing the above design-aiding method enables the
design-aiding device of the embodiment to compute and quantify a
shrinkage porosity occurrence rate of a casting product. A designer
can design a casting product with confirming whether the casting
product meets requirement on solid state properties (e.x.,
strength) of the casting product. This results in remarkably
shortening a production preparation period for designing or
redesigning a mold, and enhancing quality of the casting
product.
[0046] In the next place, an instance of computing a specific
gravity of each region will be explained. A first housing of a
product is divided into 17 regions to compute specific gravities of
the respective regions in an earlier designing stage. A molted
metal for casting is ADC 12 of an alumina alloy. A melted metal
supply-stopping temperature is 650.degree. C. A metal mold
temperature is 150.degree. C. A heat conduction coefficient of the
ADC 12 is 8.400 W/m.sup.2k. In the earlier designing stage, a
shrinkage porosity occurrence rate or strength reduction is roughly
required, so that the number of strata of values of G/{square
root}{square root over (R)} corresponds to the shrinkage porosity
occurrence rates is set to two.
[0047] FIG. 3 shows computed specific gravities of the respective
regions of the first housing and actually measured specific
gravities of the corresponding regions of the first housing, as two
graphs. It is understood that the two graphs nearly correspond to
each other. A correlation coefficient between the two graphs is
0.7.
[0048] As a second instance, a second housing of a product is
divided into 48 regions to compute specific gravities of the
respective regions in a final designing stage. A melted metal for
casting, a metal mold temperature, and a heat conduction
coefficient are the same as in the first housing.
[0049] In a later designing stage, a shrinkage porosity occurrence
rate or strength reduction is accurately required, so that the
number of strata of values of G/{square root}{square root over (R)}
corresponds to the shrinkage porosity occurrence rates is set to
fifteen. A melted metal supply-stopping temperature is set at 570
to 580.degree. C. This is because setting of the melted metal
supply-stopping temperature at 570 to 580.degree. C. leads to high
concordance rate of shrinkage porosity distribution between
actually generated porosity and a computed value using the
predictive equation of G/{square root}{square root over (R)}.
[0050] FIG. 4 shows computed specific gravities of the respective
regions of the first housing and actually measured specific
gravities of the corresponding regions of the second housing, as
two graphs. FIG. 5 shows fifteen sg-converted values relative to
the fifteen strata of G/{square root}{square root over (R)}.
[0051] A correlation coefficient between the two graphs in FIG. 4
is 0.75, which shows higher concordance rate than that shown in
FIG. 3. It is because of the number of strata being larger than
that shown in FIG. 3, which results in accurately grasping
influence of the shrinkage porosity on the solid state properties
of the product. Here, the reason why a region 25 does not have a
specific gravity is that inlet portion of the melted metal is
located in the region 25.
[0052] (Second Embodiment)
[0053] A design-aiding device shown in FIG. 6 as a second
embodiment of the present invention includes a datum input unit 8
in place of the input unit 1 of the first embodiment, and an
additional critical-state determining unit 9, in comparison to the
first embodiment.
[0054] The datum input unit 8 inputs shape data (three-dimensional
solid model) of a designed casting product, a melted metal, casting
condition, or the like. It further sets the number of strata of
occurrence rates of shrinkage cavities, designates regions where
specific gravities should be computed from the shape of the
designed casting product, and sets critical specific gravities in
the respective designated regions. The critical specific gravity is
a specific gravity that cannot yield desired solid state properties
such as strength of the designed casting product.
[0055] The critical-state determining unit 9 determines whether a
specific gravity computed by the SG computing unit 6 is smaller
than a critical specific gravity. When a given region is determined
to have a smaller specific gravity than the critical specific
gravity, the given region is recognized as a region that does not
realize the desired properties. It is thereby notified to the
designer through the output unit 7 that the given region should be
redesigned. Other components in the second embodiment are the same
as in the first embodiment, so that explanation will be
eliminated.
[0056] Processing of a design-aiding program executed in the
design-aiding device according to the second embodiment will be
explained with reference to FIG. 7.
[0057] At Step 701, shape data (three-dimensional solid model) of a
designed casting product, a melted metal, casting condition, or the
like are inputted.
[0058] At Step 702, a region of the casting product is designated
for computing a specific gravity from the inputted
three-dimensional solid model.
[0059] At Step 703, critical specific gravities (SG) are set with
respect to the respective regions designated at Step 702. This is
because properties such as strength required for the designed
product depends on a region of the product.
[0060] At Step 704, the number (more than one) of strata of
shrinkage porosity occurrence rates is set.
[0061] At Step 705, the three-dimensional solid model inputted at
Step 701 is divided into a plurality of cells (tetrahedron).
Heat-transfer solidifying of the melted metal in elapse of time is
analyzed to thereby compute a temperature gradient (G) and cooling
speed (R) of the melted metal in the respective cells.
[0062] At Step 706, a shrinkage porosity occurrence rate in each
cell is computed as a value of G/{square root}{square root over
(R)} that is a shrinkage porosity predictive equation.
[0063] At Step 707, an SG-converted value based on the value of
G/{square root}{square root over (R)}, the number of strata of
occurrence rates of the shrinkage porosity, and the kind of melted
metal used in casting is assigned to each cell.
[0064] At Step 708, a shrinkage porosity occurrence rate in each
region designated at Step 702 is quantified as a specific gravity
by the same steps as explained in the SG computing unit 6 of the
first embodiment. Namely, SG-converted values .rho.(j)
(1.ltoreq.j.ltoreq.m) assigned to respective cells are searched and
stratified. The number N.rho.(j) of the cells with respect to each
SG-converted value .rho.(j) is multiplied with a cell volume
V.rho.(j) corresponding to each SG-converted value .rho.(j). Each
of the preceding products is furthermore multiplied with the
SG-converted value .rho.(j), and summed up to obtain a region
weight 3 W ( = j = 1 j = m W ( j ) = N ( 1 ) .times. V ( 1 )
.times. ( 1 ) + N ( 2 ) .times. V ( 2 ) .times. ( 2 ) + + N ( m )
.times. V ( m ) .times. ( m ) ) .
[0065] Finally, the quotient when the region weight W is divided by
a region volume V is a region specific gravity .rho. (=W/V) that
indicates the occurrence rate of the shrinkage porosity of the
certain region.
[0066] At Step 709, the computed specific gravity of the region is
shown to notify the designer.
[0067] At Step 710, it is determined whether the computed specific
gravity is smaller than the critical specific gravity set at Step
703. When the computed specific gravity is determined to be smaller
than the critical specific gravity, redesigning of the product
should be notified to the designer. When a given computed specific
gravity of a given region within the designated regions is
determined to be smaller than the critical specific gravity, the
processing proceeds to Step 711. Here, redesigning of the given
region of the product is notified to the designer. Otherwise, the
processing is terminated.
[0068] In the next place, an instance of computing a specific
gravity of each region in the second embodiment will be explained.
A third housing of a product is divided into 52 regions to compute
specific gravities of the respective regions in a final designing
stage. A melted metal for casting, a melted metal supply-stopping
temperature, a metal mold temperature, and a heat conduction
coefficient are the same as in the second housing of the first
embodiment. The critical specific gravity of each region of the
third housing is set at 2.670. However, in a region where higher
strength is required, the critical specific gravity is set at
2.700.
[0069] FIG. 8 shows computed specific gravities of the respective
regions of the third housing and actually measured specific
gravities of the corresponding regions of the third housing, as two
graphs. As shown in FIG. 8, the computed specific gravities in the
tenth, eleventh, fourteenth, and fifteenth regions, which are
smaller than the critical specific gravity of 2.670, are shown by
being encircled to being notified to the designer.
[0070] By contrast, although the specific gravity of the fifth
region is not smaller than 2.6700, the fifth region is encircled.
This is because the fifth region is required to have larger
specific gravity than 2.700, for obtaining higher strength. Thus
redesigning of the fifth region is also notified to the
designer.
[0071] Furthermore, in the preceding embodiments, an alumina alloy
is used as a melted metal for casting. However, other metal or
metal alloy such as an iron and a copper can be used as a melted
metal for casting.
[0072] The design-aiding method can be executed as a program in
various computers. Here, the program can be stored in and read from
a hard disk drive (HDD), a compact disk drive (CD), or the like, or
can be downloaded via a communications network.
[0073] It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various
changes may be made in the above-described embodiments of the
present invention. However, the scope of the present invention
should be determined by the following claims.
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